Island



Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l. W. T. SMIT-H. EXHIBITING APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

. (No Model.)

will; r. #h 8 www. AM ma MMV (No M0881.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

W. T. SMITH.

EXHIBITING APPARATUS.

N0. 858,897. `Patented M858, 1887.

N. Parana mm-umcgnpher, washingnm D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcf-t.

YVILLIAM T. SMITH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

EXHIBITING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming peut of Letters Patent No.358,897,dated March 8,1887.

(No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM T. SiIIrI-I, a citizen of the United States,an d a resident of the city and county of Providence, and State of RhodeIsland, have invented an Improvement in Exhibiting Apparatus, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specilication, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention relates to that class of apparatus which are designed toexcite the interest or curiosity of the public, and in which areemployed, usually, a model or miniature locomotive, steamship,steamboat, or other device in connection with a music-box or musicalapparatus, and with operative mechanism, so that upon the dropping ofacoin into a coin-tube the mouth of which is exposed to view the saidcoin strikes or acts upon a pivoted lever to partially swing or rotatesaid lever, thereby actuating a stop to release the operating mechanism,and thus permit said mechanism to operate and in turn actnate themusical apparatus, as well as give motion to the driving-wheels of amodel or miniature locomotive, if such be employed, or, again, to rotatethe paddle-wheels of a steamboat, if the latter is designed to beexhibited. Usually the music-box and operating mechanism are inclosed inav neat `case or box, so as not to be exposed to view, while theminiature locomotive or other model, usually of fine workmanship, isinclosed within a glass case secured to the top of the box, so'as to beexamined by the public and to enable the motions of thc drivingwheels tobe seen when the apparatus is put in motion.

My present invention embodies more particularly improvements in thecoin-tube, the pivoted lever or levers which are to be operated by coindropped into the tube, and to certain minor improvements relating to thestop-actuating mechanism.

Further, in this class of inventions much trouble and consequentderangement of parts have been caused by persons passing wires and otherobject-Sinto the coiirtube inthe endeavor to aetuate theoperating-lever, and thus set in 5o motion the music-box as well as thedrivingwheels of the miniature locomotive or other model. In thuspassing wires, dre., into the coin-tube it becomes clogged, and parts ofthe operating mechanism become bent ortwisted or otherwise deranged. Myinvention provides against this difficulty. Next, coins attached topieces of' silken thread or cords have been dropped into the coin-tubeto set the operative parts in motion, and such coins would be thenwithdrawn to be used a second time, if desired. My invention is intendedto prevent such withdrawal of coins after they are allowed to passthrough the coin-tube. Further, I have so constructed t-he coin-tube andthe lever actuated by the coin that, when desired, only coins ofacertain denomination and size can be admitted into the coin-tube toactuate the level' and set in motion the operating parts. Furthermore, Ihave provided a stop to operate in connection with the coin-receiverattached to the oscillating lever, so that in the downward Inotion ofsaid lever the stop expels the coin from the receiver, whereby it isready to receive a second coin, when the lever is swung back to itsnormal position next the inner end of the coin-tube. vention I haveprovided, also, two coin-tubes at either side of the case or box and twooscilA lating levers in operative connection with each other, so that acoin dropped in either tube will actuat-c the levers to release the stopand permit the operative parts to be set in motion by the motor.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the receptacle which containsthe music-box, the coin-actuating levers, and operating mechanism, thesaid view showing in side elevation my invention embodied therein. Fig.2 shows in plan view a part of said box or receptacle with my inventionembodied therein, and further showing a part of the cylinder and comb ofthe musical apparatus. -Fig. 3 is a detail showing one of the coilrtubesin side elevation with the removable plate, to be referred to, detached.Fig. 4 is an edge view of one of the coin-tubes, showing the loop whichholds the removable plate in place, a part of the receptacle being shownin section. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the lower end ofthe coin-tube provided with a knife- In this my in- ICO Y. to beinclosed in the glass case G.

edge, to be referred to. Fig. 6 is a top view of one of thecoin-receiversr which are attached to the oscillating levers. Fig. 7 isa front elevation of same. Fig. S is a detail showing the wheel inelevation as provided with the recess or notch in the groove, andshowing the pin resting in said notch or recess.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box or receptacle to containthe musical apparatus, the coin-tubes, the oscillating levers, and theoperating mechanism, while B represents the top of the receptacle, uponwhich is to be mounted the miniature locomotive or other model to beexhibited, which in turn is (Sh own as broken away.)

The cylinder D and comb E are common to the ordinary and well-knownmusical-boxes, and said cylinder is driven by a motor (not shown) in theusual manner, and is provided with the gear-wheel d, having aearn-groove, d', to receive one end of the pin d2, secured to one arm ofthe stop-lever di, pivoted at d* to the base a, and provided with a stopor catch, I), which engages the flier c, having bearings in the base cand in the strap e, secured to said base. Motion is communicated fromthe gear d on the cylinder D to the flier c through the train of gearsf, the parts so far mentioned being of usual and well-knownconstruction. As herein shown, the pin d2 extends through thc stop-leverd5 and enters a slot in the arm or short extension g of the oscillatinglever G, pivoted in the bearing 9, secured to the base a. One arm of thelever G is provided at its end with a ring or eye, 3, which receives theweight-holder 4, having the cover 5, the purpose of said holder being toenable the lever G to be variably weighted at that end, for the purposeto be presently described. The other arm of the lever G carries acoinreceiver, 6, having a socket, 7, which is provided with a set-screw,8, whereby the socket may be passed over the end of the lever G and beremovably secured thereto by the screw.

The coin-receiver 6 is preferably of the construction shown in Figs. 6and 7, and is provided with tapering portions inclosed on three sides,and a central rearward shell-like extension, the taperingpartially-inclosed portions being adapted to receive a coin ot' requireddenomination and size and hold said coin in such manner, if desired,that a por1` tion thereof projects below the bottom of thecoin-receiver, while the rearward extension permits, as will bepresently seen, the said re ceiver to be passed over a stop, 10, securedin this instance to the bottom of the case A, so that the stop willstrike the coin and eject it from the receiver in the downward movementof theoscillating lever G.

The coin-tube H is herein shown as having a double bend or curve (seeFig. 8) to carry the lower end or exit to one side of the exposed coinorifice or mouth, to prevent the asaee'fi passage therethrough of sticksor other rigid obj ects, so as to engage the coin-receiver 6 and operatethe lever G, the said coinreceiver being held directly beneath and atthe lower end or exit of the eoin-tube. The coin-tube H is suflicientlylarge to accommodate coins of various denominations and sizes; but it isvpro vided with a mouth-piece, h, having the flange 40 removably securedto the case or receptacle by the set-screws 11, Figs. 1 and 3, the saidmouth-piece having a eoin-oritice, 12, of predetermined size, to permitthe passage of a coin of a given!denomination and size, and thus preventthe introduction into the said coin-tube ofa larger coin. rlhecoin-receiver 6 is also constructed to hold a coin of predetermineddenomination and size, and when the apparatus is in operative conditionthe said receiver is of a size to receive and hold the .largest cointhat can be passed through the orifice 12 of the mouth-piece h. By thismeans all coins of a smaller denomination and size passed through theorifice 12 of the mouth` piece drop through the coin-receiver 6, and donot affect the lever G to set in motion the musicalapparatus or themovable parts of the model which may be attached to the top D of thereceptacle A.

Vhen it is desired to actuate the operating lever G by the dropping of acoin smaller in size, the mouth-piece 7L is removed from the coin-tubeH, and a second mouth-piece having an orifice which will just admit ofthe passage of such smaller coin is secured to said tube, while acoin-receiver which will hold such smaller coin is attached to the endof the operating-lever G.

To prevent the introduction of wires or other flexible objects into thecoin-tube H, so as to aifect or derange the operating-lever G, I providean opening or slot, 13, (see Figs. 3, 4,) at the lower curvature or bendin said tube H, so that as said wire is passed down into said cointubeit will enter and project through the slot 13, instead of continuingfarther down into the tube. The coin-tube is further provided with aremovable plate, 14, retained in proper' position on the tube by theloop 15, the purpose of said plate being to permit inspection of theinterior of the tube near its lower end, and to remove any obstaclesthat may become clogged therein and which would prevent the free passageof coin through said tube. Further, I provide the lower end of thecointube with a knifeedge, 16, so that if a coin attached toa thread orcord is dropped into the coin-tube and allowed to pass into thecoiirreceiver to affect the operating-lever G and set in motion themusical apparatus and the moving parts of the exhibited model, such cordor thread, upon the attempted retraction of the attached coin, issevered on the knifeedge and the coin drops into the receptacle A.

In connection with the lever G and its cointube H, I provide asecondlever, J, pivoted at j and provided with a weightholder, 17, andaremovable coin-receiver, 18, of like construc- IOO IIO

tion as those employed with the lever G, the said lever J having a pin,19, (see Figs. l, 2,) projecting between the lever G and the keeperlaattachedv to said lever, so that movement of one lever compels a likemovement ofthe other lever. A second coin-tube, K, of the sameconstruction as the coin-tube H, is arranged on the opposite side of thebox or receptacle A, to act in connection with the lever J, so that coinof the required size dropped into said tube K will fall into and be heldby the coin-receiver on the lever J, to operate said lever.` The leversG and J being properly weighted by the weight-holders, so that thecoin-receivers will be held against the lower ends or exits of thecoin-tubes, and so that, further, said levers will be returned to such,their normal position when a coin or coins are eX- pelled from either orboth of the coin-receivers, the operation of the parts will be asfollows: Upon dropping a coin into, say, the coin-tube H, it passesthrough the said tube and falls into the coin-receiver 6, and by itsmomentum and weight causes the oscillating lever G to be moved on itspivot, whereupon the slotted extension g, engaging the pin g2, liftssaid pin out of the notch or recess 22 in the cam-groove of the wheel dto disengage the stop-lever ds from the ilier c, thereby releasing thelatter and permitting the motor t0 actuate the cylinder D and set inmotion the musical apparatus, as well as the connecting mechanism, whichoperates the moving parts of the exhibited model, to be placed on thetop B within the glass case C. As the lever G descends by the weight ofthe coin in the coin-receiver 6 to lift the pin out of the notch 22, thesaid coin-receiver moves downward until the projecting portion of thecontained coin rests upon the stop 10, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l.As the cylinder D thus set in motion rotates, the wheel d rotates inunison with ,said cylinder with the pin d projecting into the cam-grooveof said wheel until the boss 23 of said groove reaches the pin,whereupon the latter is raised by the former, thereby giving furtherdownward movement to that end of the lever G which carries thecoin-receiver, to cause said receiver to pass over the stop l0 to ejectthe coin from the receiver, the said lever being being carried to thelowest position shown in dotted lines, Fig. l. As soon as the boss 23passes ont of contact with the pin d2 in the continued rotary motion ofthe cylinder D, the lever G is partially raised by the groove acting onthe pin dZ toward its normal position, and is retained in such positionuntil the notch 22 of said cam-groove is brought around to the pin d2,when the lever G, being weighted by the weight-holder Ll, causes the pinto drop into said notch, thereby in turn operating the stoplever d8 tothrow it into engagement with the flier c, and thus prevent furthermovement of the musical apparatus. The gear-wheel d on the shaft of thecylinder D, from which motion is conveyed through multiplying-gears tothe flier c, is engaged by a pinion, 25, on the shaft 26, journaled inthe bearings 27, said shaft receiving a beltpulley, 28, to carry a belt,29, which is passed over the belt-pulley 30, fast on the shalt 3l,having bearings in the depending brackets 32, secured to the undersident the top B, the said shaft thereby rotating when the cylinder D isrotated. Motion is to be conveyed by any well-known mechanism from theshaft 3l to the movable parts of the miniature locomotive or other modelthat is to be placed within the glass case G, so that when the cylinderD is rotated through the dropping of a coin into either coiirtube toactuate the levers G and J the said moving parts of the model will beoperated.

It will be apparent that, if the musical apparatus is dispensed with anditis only desired to operate the movabie parts of the model to beexhibited, a common shaft actuated by a motor will answer in everyrespect as well as the cylinder D.

I claim- Y l. A rotating shaft, a wheel secured to said shaft and havinga notched groove,and a pin or stop engaging the wheel and adapted toproject or rest in said notched groove, combined with an oscillatinglever engaging the pin or stop and provided with a coin-receiver,whereby when a coin is dropped into said receiver the lever will bemoved on its pivot to lift the pin or stop out of the notch of the wheelon the rotating shaft to permit the shaft to be rotated, substantiallyas set forth. l

2. A rotating shaft, a wheel secured to said shaft and having a notchedgroove therein, substantially Aas specified, a flier and mechanismconnecting the flier with the rotating shaft, a pivoted stop-leverhaving a pin to en- IOO gage the notched groove of the wheel, and a hookto engage the flier, combined with an oscillating lever engaging thestop-lever and provided with a coin-receiver, whereby when a coin isdropped into said coin-receiver its lever is moved, and in turn saidlever actuates the stop-lever to lift its pin out of the notch ofthewheel andtake its hook out of engagement with the flier to set free theshaft and permit it to be rotated, substantially as set forth.

3. A lever pivoted between its ends, one arm of said lever beingweighted andthe other arm having a coin-receiver removably securedthereto and adapted to receive and retain a coin of predetermined sizeor denomination, and a coin-tube to direct coin into said eoinreceiver,and provided at its outer or exposed end with a removable mouth-piecehaving a coinorilice of predetermined size to admit a coin which will beheld by the said coinreceiver, combined with a rotating shaft, and astop to prevent said shaft from rotating, and adapted to be freedtherefrom by the pivoted lever upon the dropping of a coin through thecoin-tube and into the coinreceiver, substantially as speciiied.

4. A rotating shaft, a stop to prevent said shaft from rotating,and alever provided with a coin-receiver and adapted to be operated and inturn to disengage the stop from the rotating shaft by the dropping of acoin into said coinreceiver, combined with a coin-tube, curved or bentas specified, and provided with a slot, 13, substantially as' and forthe purpose set forth.

5. A rotating shaft, a stop to prevent said shaft from rotating, and alever in operative connection with said stop, for the purpose set forth,and provided with a coin-receiver, coinbined With a cointube to directcoins into the coin-receiver, and provided with a knife-edge at itslower end, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A rotating shaft, a stop to prevent said shaft from rotating, and alever in operative connection with said stop, for the purpose specified,and provided with a Coin-receiver having an opening or slot to permitengagement of coin-eXpelling means with the coin to be held by saidcoin-receiver, combined with a cointube to direct coins into thereceiver, and a coin-eXpeller or stop to expel the coin from saidreceiver, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A rotating shaft, a stop to prevent said shaft from rotating, and amain lever in operative connection with said stop, for the purposespecified, and provided with a coin-receiver, combined With asupplemental pivoted lever connected with the main lever and providedwith a coin-receiver, whereby the main lever will be actuated by thedropping of a coin into either coin-receiver, substantially as setforth.

8. A rotating shaft, a stop to prevent said shaft from rotating, and acoin-tube, combined with a pivoted lever provided with a coin-receiverto hold a coin dropped into the cointube, so that the weight of saidcoin while held in its receiver will move the lever on its pivot andcause it to disengage the stop from the rotating shaft, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed 'my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM T. SMITH.

Titnessesz CHAs. F. SGHMELZ, JAs. H. LANGE.

